The Soul and Harry Potter

I would like to ponder a mystery presented to assiduous readers of the Harry Potter series. The question or rather the concept that needs explaining is the role the human soul plays in the mystery and magic of the story.

The soul, spirit, or quintessence can not be measured but somehow this ineffable presence must be described in order to understand the seminal events that have occurred.

In book 6 (Half-Blood Prince) we learn that terrible acts can tear a soul apart. In an effort to deny death Voldemort learns how to trap pieces of his own soul in various objects called horcruxes.

I had a suspicion that this might be Voldemort's way of securing his immortality. It became obvious that an understanding of the soul could explain a lot about Harry and his scar.

I believe the soul has something to do with each of the following points.

  • Ghosts
  • Dementor's kiss
  • Portraits in Dumbledore's office and Hogworts
  • Tom Riddle's Diary
  • Voldemort's ability to inhabit Quirrell's body
  • Connection between Harry and Voldemort
  • Sorting hat

 

The soul and being alive: a brief description.

  1. In order to be alive, one must have a soul or at least part of the soul.
  2. The soul's power of life is its ability to contain a person's memories and emotions.
  3. When the soul departs the body it normally exits this world to exist in a "spiritual" world with no pathway of return.
  4. Soul and body are tightly held together by some indescribable spark or force. I think that Voldemort survived the Avada Kedavra curse which rebounded off Harry and released what was left of his soul because this "spark" or "quintessence" was not destroyed.

     "I miscalculated, my friends, I admit it. My curse was deflected by the woman's foolish sacrifice, and it rebounded upon myself. Aaah . . . pain beyond pain, my friends, nothing could have prepared me for it. I was ripped from my body. I was less than spirit, less than the meanest ghost . . . but still I was alive. What I was, even I do not know . . ." pg. 653 Goblet of Fire

How can this description help answer the points above?

I. Ghosts

A ghost is the imprint of a soul which remains on our (living) side of the veil for some reason or another. The ghost retains all of the memories and emotions of the former individual but has no ability to handle or manipulate the physical objects of this world. Nearly Headless Nick describes it thus:

"Wizards can leave an imprint of themselves upon the earth, to walk palely where their living selves once trod ... I was afraid of death. I chose to remain behind. I sometimes wonder whether I oughtn't have ... Well, that is neither here nor there ... In fact, I am neither here nor there..." (OP38)

And from no less an authority than Snape "A ghost ... is the imprint of a departed soul left upon the earth...."

 

II. Dementor's Kiss

When given a chance a dementor can destroy an individual by "sucking" the soul out of their body. The kiss leaves an empty shell behind. The soul is unable to "cross over" to the spiritual world, destined to remain trapped in this one. Lupin tells Harry just what a Dementor is in Prisoner of Azkaban.

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can't see them. Get too near a dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself...soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life." pg. 187

We also learn from Lupin that Dementors do not kill. "Much worse than that. You can exist without your soul...as long as your brain and heart are still working. But you'll have no sense of self anymore, no memory no...anything. There's no chance at all of recovery. You'll just -- exist. As an empty shell. And your soul is gone forever...lost." gp 247

"...they clamp their jaws upon the mouth of the victum and -- and suck out his soul." pg 247

  

III. Tom Riddle's Diary

We now know (Book 6) that Tom's diary was a horcrux. That means it contained a part of Voldemort's soul. One should re-read the end of Chamber of Secrets to understand how the soul encased in a horcrux can take over another individual and co-opt their body. Here is Tom Riddle talking to Harry about Jenny Weasley.

"I grew stronger and stronger on a diet of her deepest fears her darkest secrets. I grew powerful, far more powerful than little Miss Weasley. Powerful enough to start feeding Miss Weasley a few of my secrets, to start pouring a little of my soul back into her...." pg 310 of Chamber.

 

IV. Voldemort's ability to inhabit Quirrell's body

It the first book we discover that Voldemort is attempting to return to "life". "See what I have become?" the face said (Voldemort). "Mere shadow and vapor..." A weaker wizard, Quirrell, unfortunately was under Voldemort's control. Does this mean there are two souls in one body?

As Dumbledore explains to Harry in S.S. pg 299, "Quirrell, full of hatred, greed, and ambition sharing his soul with Voldemort, could not touch you..." indicates that two souls can exist in the same body, at least for a time.

 

V. Connection between Harry and Voldemort

How are Harry and Voldemort connected. We know there is some kind of connection. Harry's scar hurts when Voldemort is very emotional - either very angry or very pleased. Harry discovers that he has skills that can be attributed to Voldemort such as his ability to speak to snakes. Is it possible that an imprint of Voldemort's soul or even a part of his soul is bound up inside Harry? Could Harry be one of the Horcruxes?

 

VI. Portraits at Hogworts

The Portraits at Hogworts are able to communicate with students and staff and can even move from one portrait to another. They are not however complete imprints of souls, rather they are "impressions" somehow left behind.  

 

VII. Sorting hat

The Sorting Hat is similar to the portraits. It is not fully realized even as an imprint - perhaps imprints of the souls of the 4 founders.

 

The question then arises -- how does the Avada Kedavra curse kill a person without doing any harm to their body?

I believe that the curse breaks the connection between a person's body and soul. The soul then rapidly travels to the spiritual world never to return. Since the curse severs a spiritual link the person's body appears undamaged.

 

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